What Herb Repels Ants?

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If the presence of persistent ants in and around your property is driving you up the wall, you don't have to pack up and move to another house. You can get rid of the little pests easily -- and naturally. Pay a visit to your local garden center, where you can find herbs that repel ants from your home and garden.

Pushed Away by Tansy

One herb that can be helpful for deterring ants is tansy (Tanacetum vulgare), which thrives in the United States Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones of 4 through 8. The leaves and roots both can drive ants away. Sprinkle tansy over your plants to keep ants at bay. The annoying insects strongly object to the scent of tansy, and as a result will promptly leave. Squash bugs, beetles and worms all dislike tansy.

Driven Away by Catnip

Felines might adore catnip (Nepeta cataria) to bits, but ants have the complete opposite reaction to it. The mint family herb is hardy in USDA zones 3 through 9. Dried catnip can be handy for keeping ants far away. Put the herb in any location you suspect might be an entry point for ants into your residence, whether windows, doors or anything else. Putting catnip over their trails also often works like a charm. Japanese beetles, aphids, weevils and squash bugs all also are discouraged by catnip. Mints in general can be ant deterrents -- think spearmint and peppermint. Mice and cabbage worms are put off by mint, as well.

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Repelled by Wormwood

Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium), hardy in USDA zones 4 through 9, can repel ants. If you grow wormwood in your garden, it just might prevent ants from invading your beloved plants. Powdered and dried wormwood also can be useful for repelling ants. Moths intensely dislike wormwood as well.

Deterred by Rue and Other Plants

Rue (Ruta graveolens) repels ants. This perennial herb thrives in USDA zones 4 through 9. Thin woody shoots of these herbs -- dried -- can deter ants. Simply disperse these twigs by your plants and watch as the tiny insects cease appearing. These twigs can often be beneficial for keeping insects away in general, not exclusively ants. When it comes to repelling ants with herbs, the available options are numerous. Ants are also commonly deterred both by sage and pennyroyal. Sage (Salvia officinalis) is hardy in USDA zones 5 through 9. Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium) is hardy in USDA zones 5 through 9.